The Everton summer signing looks a different player under Sam Allardyce.
Despite Sam Allardyce’s habit of getting the best out of under-performing players, you would have been hard pressed to find an Everton fan who foresaw Cuco Martina’s transformation at Goodison Park.
The 28-year-old arrived at Goodison Park on a free transfer last summer but most Toffees fans thought even that was too much for a player who looked completely out of his depth under former Everton boss Ronald Koeman.
With Leighton Baines currently unavailable, Martina has been acting as a makeshift left-back and, rather than continuing his calamitous start, the Curacao international has become one of Everton’s most improved players.
In fact, Everton have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 since Martina switched to the opposite flank and the unthinkable could happen once Baines returns, with the Toffees veteran overlooked in favour of a player who could not catch a break a few short weeks ago.
Allardyce has worked wonders with this Everton side and nowhere is that more evident than in Martina’s resurgence.
Baines should be back from injury for the Toffees’ festive fixtures but, both bizarrely and unexpectedly, he could face a spell no the bench with Martina continuing to prove his worth.
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